Chains of the Heretic

Bloodsounder's Arc #3

by Jeff Salyards

Men are more easily broken than myths.

Emperor Cynead has usurped command of the Memoridons—Tower-controlled memory witches—and consolidated his reign over the Syldoonian Empire. After escaping the capital city of Sunwrack, Captain Braylar Killcoin and his Jackal company evade pursuit across Urglovia, tasked with reaching deposed emperor Thumaar and helping him recapture the throne. Braylar’s sister, Soffjian, rejoins the Jackals and reveals that Commander Darzaak promised her freedom if she agreed to aid them in breaking Cynead’s grip on the other Memoridons and ousting him.

Imperial forces attempt to intercept Braylar’s company before they can reach Thumaar. The Jackals fight through Cynead’s battalions but find themselves trapped along the Godveil. Outmaneuvered and outnumbered, Braylar gambles on some obscure passages that Arki has translated and uses his cursed flail, Bloodsounder, to part the Godveil, leading the Jackals to the other side. There, they encounter the ruins of human civilization, but they also learn that the Deserters who abandoned humanity a millennium ago and created the Veil in their wake are still very much alive. But are they gods? Demons? Monsters?

What Braylar, Soffjian, Arki, and the Jackals discover beyond the Godveil will shake an empire, reshape a map, and irrevocably alter the course of history.

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Audiobook, Military Fiction, Magic

524 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 2016

About the author

I grew up in a small town north of Chicago. While it wasn't Mayberry, with all the doors unlocked and everyone offering each other slices of pie and quaint homilies, it was pretty quiet and sleepy, so I got started early imagining my way into all kinds of other worlds and universes that were loud, chaotic, and full of irrepressible characters and heaps of danger. Massive explosions. Tentacled aliens. Men with sharp swords and thousand-yard stares and secrets they would die to protect. Clearly, I was a full-bore dork.

Royal Crown bag full of multi-sided dice? Check. Blood-red hooded cloak? Check. Annual pilgrimages to Renaissance Faires? Check. Whacking other (curiously athletic and gifted) dorks with rattan swords in the SCA? Check. Yes, I earned my badges, thank you very much.

My whole life, I've been fascinated by the fantastic, and of course this extended to speculative fiction of all kinds. Countless prepubescent evenings found me reading a worn, dog-eared copy of Thuvia, Maid of Mars (it sounded so much dirtier than it was!) or The Frost Giant's Daughter (high hopes for that one too!) well past lights-out, flashlight in hand, ignoring the repeated calls to turn in. That's as quiet and harmless a rebellion as you can have, and my parents mostly sighed and left me to it.

So, no one has ever been surprised to hear that I was working on (or at least talking about working on) some sci-fi or fantasy story or other. But it took years of flirting with various projects, flitting from one to the next without the hint of complete commitment, before I finally mastered myself enough to finish a novel. And longer still before I finished another one that was worthy of being published.

But wonders never cease. And here we are.

My debut novel, Scourge of the Betrayer, is a hard-boiled fantasy to be published by Night Shade Books in May 2012. It’s the first installment in a series called Bloodsounder’s Arc. I'm so excited I'm beginning to annoy myself. I am represented by Michael Harriot at Folio Literary Management, and couldn't be happier. His savvy, smart advice has been invaluable on this journey. I suspect he has a secret stash of 20-siders somewhere in his desk.

I live with my lovely wife, Kris, and three daughters in a suburb west of Chicago. I am indebted to Kris in countless ways for her steadfast encouragement, support, and thick skin in dealing with a prickly, moody writer. I don't always like living with me, but she has a choice and stays anyway.

And before you are tempted to mention it, I am fully aware that siring three daughters is certainly karmic retribution, particularly when they all transform into teenagers. I cling to the hope of discovering at least one of them reading covertly in the middle of the night. That kind of transgression I can handle.

Reviews

[Mark Lawrence]

This arrived on my doormat today.

It prompted me to this blog post on the cost of promotion.

http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk...

EDIT: And now I've read it!

I liked the first two books in this trilogy quite a lot. I had some reservations, but they were good reads. Book three is a great read and my reservations are gone. I'm not entirely sure what changed. I think it's down to several factors.

i) The characters have won me over, I buy the relationships, and our 'hero' Arki is more focused and develops more swiftly. Also the endless research pays off in more concrete ways.

ii) The world building expands and things become very interesting. Lots of imagination on show.

iii) The plot comes together big time and the groundwork laid down in previous books really earns its keep.

Since it's on the front cover it's no spoiler to say that Captain Braylar gets to fight a deserter, an eyeless giant. This aspect of the book is fascinating and the conflict really helps raise the stake and creates real tension.

As in previous books the focus is generally on small scale encounters between scores of opponents with close attention paid to armour, weapons, tactics, and individual combat. We also get memory magic and various new flavours of this enchantment are deployed.

I don't want to drop any spoilers but it seems fair to say that Captain Braylar's escaping band travel widely, visit the godveil and in time find themselves back at the capital involved in high level power politics.

The story ends with plenty of scope for the survivors to engage in more adventure. So here's hoping that Salyards pens some more in future.


Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes


...

[Petrik]

4.5/5 stars

Let me start this review with nothing less than the truth, and the truth is that Bloodsounder’s Arc is a criminally underrated trilogy.

This is the second time I’ve rated a conclusion to a grimdark trilogy with 5 stars, the first one being Last Argument of Kings in October 2016. Yes, it’s been one and a half years since I read any conclusion to a grimdark trilogy that deserved this rating. It also has been an entire month and eleven books in a row since I had a 5/5 stars read. However, this book truly deserves my full rating.

Chains of the Heretic is an outstanding conclusion to the Bloodsounder’s Arc trilogy by Jeff Salyards. The first two books were great but this one blew them out of the park; it’s by far the best installment in the series. During my time of reading this trilogy, I had this reoccurring question: “Why the hell is no one reading this trilogy?” That question was even more prominent during my time reading this book. This series’ lack of attention is ridiculous, because it is so much better than tons of popular grimdark fantasy series out there. Despite being first released in 2016, currently there are less than 100 reviews for this book on Goodreads. Are you freaking kidding me!? So many people say “I’m a grimdark/military fantasy fan,” but very few even give this trilogy a try. Seriously, to all fans of the genre, you’re missing out on something really great if you neglect reading this trilogy.

The story once again picks up immediately after the end of the second book as if it was a simple chapter change. Salyards has created something fantastic here. Honestly speaking, from the first book alone, I never would have expected for the storyline to ever turn into something this grand and intense in the last installment. The first book is seriously just an appetizer for the greatness to come within this final book. This book also resolved every plot-line wonderfully while at the same time, leaving some room for the future if the author ever decides to revisit this world. I need to also restate that, even though this is the last book of the trilogy, there are still plenty of revelations for the readers to encounter. After all, this is where readers will finally learn more about the Deserters, the Godveils, and the Bloodsounder.

Imbued with excellently compelling dialogues, intricately crafted battle scenes, incredible world-building, and most of all some gradual but spectacular character developments, Chains of Heretic was a magnificently written page turner. I finished this book in two days; I had to steal a lot of reading time during my working hours and it was so worth every second.

I’m risking sounding like a broken record by repeating things I’ve stated in my first two reviews, but I really must say this again: the character development is just amazing. Arki’s development from a simple scribe to a warrior, while also becoming the trusted companion of Captain Braylar Killcoin and a treasured member of the Jackals, was exceptionally well written.

“Joining the Syldoon was surely the most remarkable adventure I could have embarked on, no matter how things turned out.”

Part of what makes this trilogy so unique is that, even though the entire trilogy is told from solely from the perspective of Arki in first person POV narration, Salyards still manages to make it feels like a multi-POV book. In my opinion, he achieves this by implementing a lot of compelling, and at times humorous, dialogues between the characters, making sure everyone has distinct personalities and always have a role in the story even though readers get to see them only from Arki’s POV.

I feel like I’ve said all I needed to say about what makes this trilogy fantastic within all three of my reviews, but before I close this review, let me say a few more things about the battle scenes. It is not easy for fantasy authors to write vivid and intricate battle scenes; I’ve read almost 200 SFF books in less than two years and there are less than ten authors who I consider capable of crafting proper battle scenes, and Jeff Salyards undoubtedly deserves to be included in that list. The action sequences in this book were captivating, immersive, intense, bloody, and highly vivid. Salyards’s prose simply has a way of pulling the reader deeply into the heat of all the chaos; the only other author in the grimdark genre who I know is able to achieve this result is Joe Abercrombie. The last quarter of this book in particular was simply impossible to put down with all mayhem that had been unleashed.

“It is an exceptionally fine day for crossbows.”

I will admit I had my doubts in the last quarter of the book; there are so many things to resolve within the last 20% of the book but miraculously, Salyards did it. I really don’t know what else to say to convince anyone to read this book. Same as The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie and Manifest Delusions by Michael R. Fletcher, Bloodsounder's Arc is going to the top of my list of priority recommendations for grimdark fans. Chains of Heretics is a superlative and satisfying conclusion to a great grimdark/military fantasy trilogy and I sincerely hope a lot of readers will give this trilogy a try. A job well done, Jeff Salyards. I’ll be waiting eagerly for your future works.

Series review:

Scourge of the Betrayer: 3.5/5 stars
Veil of the Deserters: 4/5 stars
Chains of the Heretic: 4.5/5 stars

Bloodsounder's Arc: 12/15 stars

You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest

[Bookwraiths]

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths

4.5 stars. Let me explain why.

As the concluding chapter of Bloodsounder’s Arc, Chains of the Heretic is a rousing and fitting finale; one which thunders out of the gate, determined to shed light upon every shadowy mystery and to resolve every plot line. This journey of Arki from naive scribe to trusted member of Captain Killcoin’s Syldoon company ending the only way it could: with both tears and optimism for a new beginning. But, wait, I’m getting ahead of myself; let me set the stage for this grimdark lovers delight.

Fans of this series recall how Scourge of the Betrayer set the table; Mr. Salyard’s introducing young Arkamandos (Arki for short) desperate to belong to an epic endeavor, some notable enterprise worth chronicling. And imaging he has found such with the rough and rugged Captain Killcoin, he eagerly sets off into the Kingdom of Anjuria upon an unknown mission, quickly finding himself immersed in political machinations, eye-opening violence, and legendary magical mysteries; his only desire to survive it all.

In Veil of the Deserters , the Syldoon mission in Anjuria comes to a dramatic climax, as the Captain’s estranged sister, Soffjian, arrives, recalling him to the capital upon the orders of Emperor Cynead. This summons sets off a chain of events which leads Arki deeper into the strange world of Captain Killcoin; his childhood, his rift with his memory witch sister, the exotic and dangerous world of the Syldoon Empire, and the mystery of the Captain’s unholy flail. Each of these facets of the Captain’s life shifting and merging into a dynamic and mesmerizing grimdark adventure, which triumphs in its realistic characters, true-to-life combat, and believable situations.

But now, in Chains of the Heretic, it must all end. Arki’s time with Captain Killcoin, Soffjian, and all the other Slydoon winding down. The quest to uncover the truth behind Bloodsounder’s magic, its true use, and the key to freeing the Captain from its unholy influence still at the forefront, even as the group finds itself fleeing from the city of Sunwrack, determined to find deposed Emperor Thumarr and aid in his revolution; their every move thwarted by imperial troops, who continue to drive Killcoin’s motley group toward the Godveil, where they will be trapped.

But there is one last, desperate hope. The cryptic lore discovered by Arki in moldy tomes pointing to a possible use for Bloodsounder. At least, the young scribe believes so — if he can convince Captain Killcoin to attempt it. But there is no promise it will work, and even if it does, Arki and his comrades might find themselves in even worse straits than facing their Syldoon enemies, because who can say what lies on the other side of the Godveil!

First off, I have to say this was a great book. A really amazing grimdark. Especially if you found the first two installments of the trilogy to your liking, because — like Scourge of the Betrayer and even more so Veil of the Deserters — Chains surrounds itself in the realistic trappings of a magical, medieval world, focuses on the people involved in the tale, and actually sets out to tell their stories without any shortcuts or deus ex machina. While it isn’t historical fantasy by any stretch, the loving details and accurate portrayals of the world and the people makes it seem so real that at times it will seem like you could hop a plane and be there in a few hours to tour the ruins. And for me, being able to fully immerse myself in a fantasy and believe it is real is the first step to falling in love with the narrative.

The second, necessary element of a great fantasy is the characters. No worries there, because Bloodsounder’s Arc has always had those.

Arki is the easy to empathize with youth, caught up in events way over his head, but willing to learn, fight to survive and, perhaps, find his place among his companions. He isn’t an instantaneous god-like hero by any stretch of the definition, but rather a real person whom you grow to like and pull for.

Captain Braylar Killcoin is so many things: the foul-mouthed soldier (Who can forget his constant “honey-cock” insults to one enemy), the rough but complex man (His past reveals so much), the harsh but fair mentor (Arki learns many hard lessons from him), and the dedicated soldier (The ending of this trilogy makes it very clear.) Each side of him turning Braylar from a simple caricature into a fully-rounded man, whom you find yourself frustrated by but always willing to forgive.

Soffjian is Braylar’s feminine side. She is still harsh, sharp as a honed blade, determined to the point of stubbornness, and unforgiving of anyone’s weaknesses, but her interactions with Arki and her brother show multiple facets of her personality. Little tidbits of humanity and her long suffering for what she is (A memory witch remember) slowly bubbling to the surface, making her a very interesting character to read about.

There are many more, but those are the big three in my eyes, and they are definitely the stars of the show.

Lastly, a story must have a compelling plot which actually pays off in the end. Lord of the Rings is the epitome of this for me personally. Tolkien taking his hobbits from their comfortable hobbit holes through the horrors of war and to fiery Mount Doom before bringing them home again — changed forever by their journey. Other series have attempted to emulate the same formula, but failed in my opinion (*Cough* The Dark Tower by Stephen King *Cough*) because their conclusions resolved nothing. But with Chains of the Heretic, Mr. Salyards hits the mark closer to Return of the King than that other unnamed (wink) series, because all the plot lines in Bloodsounder’s Arc are basically resolved here, converging together into a conclusion which not only nicely wraps up the story but acknowledges that this is merely the beginning. The start of a whole new chapter in not only Arki’s life but the other surviving characters as well, which is so realistic since life is exactly like that.

I give Chains of the Heretic and Bloodsounder’s Arc my highest recommendations; it really is one of my favorite grimdark fantasy series. While I could nitpick about small details in the narrative or bitch about this resolution or that one, I chose not to do so, because this novel should be appreciated for all the things it did so well, and I look forward to seeing Arki and friends again in the future and growing to know them again.

[Mogsy]

5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/02/08/b...

I am stunned on so many levels. To call Chains of the Heretic one of the finest pieces of dark fantasy I have ever read would be a gross understatement. It is simply phenomenal, an incredible masterpiece and outstanding achievement for Jeff Salyards. There’s also no doubt about it, this series has come a long way since the author’s debut novel Scourge of the Betrayer, the first Bloodsounder’s Arc book that started us on this epic journey.

Just like the series’ protagonist and narrator Arkamandos (Arki for short), it amazes me to think back to the beginning and see how far things have come. If you’ve read my review of the first book, you’ll know that I liked it plenty. But it was the sequel that really opened up the world for me. Veil of the Deserters drove home for me what Salyards was trying to achieve and made me a diehard fan of the series, and then to have this third book come in and shatter all my already sky-high expectations? It was an unparalleled surprise, to say the least. It goes without saying that these are my favorite kinds of trilogies, the ones where each book just gets better and better.

Not to sound deliberately cryptic, but this series has always been about being secretive and extremely cautious about revealing its intentions. If you haven’t read the first two books, almost everything I say about the story of Chains of the Heretic could be regarded as a spoiler, so I’ll keep my descriptions of it brief. This book picks up right where the last one left off, following Captain Braylar Killcoin and his band of Jackals after their narrow escape from the Syldoon capital, with the shaken Arki in tow. Trapped between the Godveil and the Imperial forces on their tail, the company is forced to make a desperate gambit. All they have to go on are Arki’s incomplete translations of some ancient and obscure texts, which are spotty at best, but the choice is simple: pass through the mysterious Veil and maybe die, or stay to be cut down by Emperor Cynead’s far bigger army and die for sure.

Putting his trust in Arki’s findings, Braylar decides to take a chance on the crazy plan, using his magical flail Bloodsounder to lead his men and women into the unknown. But though this move takes them beyond the reach of their enemies, what awaits them on the other side of the Veil is arguably even more terrible. What they find will shake the foundations of life, religion and history for everyone living in the Empire.

Yes, you heard correctly. At long last, we get to cross the inscrutable Godveil, that ominous piece of the puzzle that has been teasing me from day one. I can practically picture Salyards sitting behind his keyboard as he wrote this book, rubbing his hands together in a villainous fashion while chortling with maniacal glee as he finally unleashed all the secrets he has been sitting on since he first started writing this series. I have to hand it to him though, the wait was well worth it. Plague me, but I was riveted by all the strange things our characters discovered on the other side.

As ever though, what I loved most were the characters. I am and will always be a “character first” kind of reader. Of course in an ideal situation, characters, world-building, story, and writing will all be perfectly balanced, but without the first, it’s generally more difficult for me to get into the rest. That’s why I was really thrilled when Chains of the Heretic delivered splendidly on all fronts, with characters scoring a perfect ten. The choice of Arki as the narrator has always struck me as a brilliant choice—he is the Jackals’ scribe, an outsider hired on to translate documents for Captain Killcoin, but this also puts him in the perfect position to be the company’s Chronicler, both for the Syldoon and us as the readers. His role gives him a reasonable excuse to question everything and everyone, which is how most of the other characters’ motivations and the ways of this world are revealed to us. In this book, we also get to see how Arki’s experience with the Syldoon has changed him irrevocably. He’ll always stick out as the bookish scribe among a group of hardened warriors, but it moved me how the Jackals have gradually come to see him as one of their own.

But while entire series is told through Arki’s eyes, it’s interesting to me how the Bloodsounder’s Arc has always been the about the saga of Braylar Killcoin and his relationship with the eponymous cursed flail. Be that as it may though, the truth is that I would be hard pressed to name my favorite characters. Placing duty above everything else, Captain Braylar is the consummate soldier who will lay down his life for his Tower and commander, but aside from Arki, Braylar’s colorful cast of lieutenants also provide him counsel (or attempt to, anyway). From the seasoned Hewspear to the hulking Azmorgon, from the always-live-in-the-present Vendurro to the foulmouthed Muldoos (who is as eloquently offensive as ever), I literally love them all. And last but not least, there is the good captain’s sister Soffjian, the scary Memoridon who can take down a squad of Syldoon with no more than a single thought if she wanted to. I’ve become so attached to these characters that I’d already braced myself knowing the loss of any one of them would strike a devastating blow.

Furthermore, Jeff Salyards proves himself a skilled wordsmith by the way constructs his prose, especially when he really lets loose in his characters’ dialogue. There’s a lot of humor, and depending on who’s delivering it, you get everything from Braylar’s deadpan, matter-of-fact sarcasm to Muldoos’ creatively crass brand of profanity, plus even some of Arki’s own ironic observances thrown in. This final volume also underscores the superb storytelling, drawing together three books’ worth of intricate plot threads to bring the trilogy to a seamless conclusion. It’s true there are some predictable outcomes, especially if you’ve been following the character dynamics closely, but the overall cohesiveness of the series is a testament to excellent plotting and pacing. I’ve always said that bittersweet endings can be a tricky thing, but Salyards nails it.

The Bloodsounder’s Arc is now in the top spot for my favorite grimdark fantasy series. In case all the frantic gushing I’ve been doing hasn’t driven the fact home already, that’s how much I loved this book. If this is what Jeff Salyards can do with his debut trilogy, I can’t wait to see more of his future writing endeavors.

[Milda Page Runner]

Captain Killcoin hadn’t predicted what had come to pass in Sunwrack, but he had been absolutely right about one thing—I’d seen things so far beyond the pale they made me dizzy to think about. Joining the Syldoon was surely the most remarkable adventure I could have embarked on, no matter how things turned out.

Well if the first book was good and second even better – this one is a blast. Nonstop action, fights, adventure, twists one after another – intense and breathtaking start to finish. Strongest book in the series and certainly finishes trilogy with a bang. Jeff Salyards joins my favorite authors and I sincerely believe that this series deserves more attention.
Highly recommend for grimdark and military fantasy readers.

“Nothing is certain, save death. The only mystery is the means and who bears witness.”

Despite my throbbing tongue, sweat pouring double time from every pore, and my heart racing faster than any horse’s, I couldn’t suppress a huge smile. Survival was the greatest prize of all. I wanted to yell, to cry, to drink, and yes, to whoop, loudly, maniacally. We’d lost men, we’d been bloodied and injured, but no matter what, we survived. And that felt as sweet and wonderful as anything I could imagine.

“What’s the most powerful muscle in your body?” I thought about it for a moment and then tapped at my helm. Mulldoos laughed, and then hooted. “And here I thought you were supposed to be half clever. It’s your legs, your hips. You get in a fight, everything you do starts there. Stance, movement, generating power and follow-through, controlling range. Legs.

Mulldoos gave Rudgi a cold pale stare. “The thing makes Azmorgon look like a dwarf, managed to see us plenty fine without any plaguing eyes, must weigh more than a laden wagon, and killed near on ten men all by its lonesome, and you’re worried about its cock?” Rudgi shrugged. “Legitimate question, isn’t it? I mean, every male something or other has a cock. Most natural thing in the world, really. Even monsters or demons or gods. In fact, you all seem more fixated on your packages than us most of the time, so it sort of comes as a shock you all didn’t make the observation first.”

“Sleep, elusive as a ghost, plaintive as a widow, and as easy to hold as the wind.”

“What was the plan?” “I do sometimes admire your quiet relentlessness. Sometimes.” I said, “But not now?” “Not especially.” “Should I stop?” “Will you stop? Unless I gag you, I suspect not. But you should know enough by now to be sure that gagging someone will trouble my conscience not at all.”

“It is not an especially good day for crossbows. It might be among the worst, truly, but it is still our day. We kill these giant whoresons and win free.” Vendurro muttered, “Just once, it would be nice to casually stroll out of a city without having to kill everybody.” I lifted the flap on my quiver, checked the crossbow, and silently agreed.

‘With respect’ is an empty preamble designed to convince the listener to tolerate the absolutely impertinent point that immediately follows. I’m not sure which I despise more—that slyness or the blunt irreverence Mulldoos is so fond of.” “Or,” Soffjian offered, “the near mutinous open stupidity of Azmorgon.” “Quite,” he said. “At least Arki’s foolishness is more tolerable on the whole.” He gave me a hard look. “If barely. So, ask then.”

Vendurro grinned. “Too bad questions ain’t stones.” He waited, knowing I would have to ask another. “Oh? Why is that?” “You keep piling one on top of the next, by now you could have built yourself your own Tower. I’m thinking . . . Quill Tower. Ayyup. Tower Commander Arkamondos. Got a real fine ring to it, don’t it?”

“And who are you, crone?” Mulldoos laughed and Braylar began to answer, but Nustenzia overrode both of them. “I am one of the High Foci, sworn to serve the Vrulinka-Antovia-Lilka, Matriarch of Roxtiniak, Guardian of the Veil, the Great Wielder. And I am here under duress.” “Aren’t we all,” Thumaar said, and then asked Braylar, “What is she babbling about? Is this some cult I’m unaware of?”

Rudgi gave me a punch in the upper arm. “Just act like you belong. It’ll all work out fine.” I nodded, completely lacking confidence in anything she said. I didn’t believe for a moment that everything was going to be fine. In my relatively short stint with the Jackals, even when things went perfectly according to plan, the results were never what any non-Syldoon would think of as “fine.”

Braylar said, “If you have any objections or better suggestions, I would hear them now.” Mulldoos looked like he was ready to roll out some more rebuttals, though out of pure habit or pique it was hard to tell, but then surprisingly held his tongue, shrugging his big shoulders. “Heard lousier plans.” “A resounding endorsement,” the captain said before turning to the others. “Anyone else? Other alternatives? Critique? Asinine remarks?” After another few moments of silence Braylar slapped the buckler on his belt. “Very good. It is settled then, yes? To the abandoned village at the edge of our world.”

[David]

An exceptional finale to a very fine military Fantasy trilogy. One I'll add to my personal all-time favorites shelf. And a trilogy I just cannot recommend highly enough. Fantasy of the highest quality.

Last month, Jan. 2016 I finally got around to reading Joe Abercrombie's FIRST LAW trilogy for the first time. It blew me away. I found it to be just about the greatest fantasy tale I'd ever read. I never expected that that reading experience would be topped or topped so soon. No, not topped exactly. I enjoyed BLOODSOUNDER'S ARC in a very different way. It's a perhaps more nuanced, adult, indie read. So equally loved by this reader.

This is a novel that should be kept in mind during awards season. Hugo, Nebula and Gemmell. Should have nods for all three.

Also to note: this series is highly re-readable. You'll love it, even more, the second time through.

[Timothy Ward]

Chains of the Heretic is the longest and best book of a trilogy that has continually made me root for Jeff Salyards to become my favorite fantasy author. He has so much going for him: his dialogue is hilarious in ways unmatched by the piers I've read; his action is top notch, and continues to improve with each book; and his worldbuilding with the bloodsounder weapon, the Godsveil, memorandums, etc...

This is my new favorite fantasy trilogy. Chains of the Heretic is the best book yet, probably the most flawlessly entertaining and satisfying delivery I could have hoped for from Salyards. He is the author that showed promise, doubled down and then for his final act performed equal parts magic.. intelligence...and equal parts explosive.

Chains of the Heretic is the reward I was hoping for. Thank you, Jeff!

I'm not supposed to review this because it doesn't come out until February of 2016, but I can't help but finish this, give Jeff a huge slap on the back, and then tell all of my reading friends to lock into and catch up on this trilogy in time for Chains of the Heretic to release. Jeff is a talent I'd hate to see ignored because his stories deserve everything but.

My reviews of

Scourge of the Betrayer (Bloodsounders Arc #1)
Veil of the Deserters (Bloodsounders Arc #2)

My podcast interview with Jeff on Adventures in Scifi Publishing

Also, check out Veil of Deserters on sale on Amazon right now. The hardback is ridiculously cheap right now.

[Freakout]

Five plaguing stars!!!
Epic conclusion to the series, fantastic characters, worldbuilding and writing.
Jeff Salyards welcome to my favorite authors list!

[Jeff Salyards]

Despite accidentally rating this 2-stars, I actually did like my own book. Honest.

[seak]

I realized I still haven't reviewed this book and that is complete junk because this book deserves to get reviewed by everyone on the whole site. Salyards is such an underrated talent who is easily up there with Abercrombie and Lynch.

I always have a difficult time with reviews for the last in a series/trilogy. This is no different. There's no way to do it without spoiling some stuff, but I refuse to hide the whole review for that reason because ... it's the third in a series. I think we all get that.

Anyway, the sheer amount of places Salyards takes us in this, the last of the trilogy, is mind-boggling. Toward the end of the book, I was thinking back to portions of the same book that I thought were in the previous book. That's how absolutely nuts this gets. No place is safe from the Syldoon!

Salyards is the man. If you're waiting on Joe Abercrombie to get moving with his new series, look no further. This series was so good, I can't wait to reread it. I can't wait till we all make it possible for him to quit his day job and write full time. That is my dream. Please make it happen and buy his books.

5 out of 5 Stars (easy choice for me)

Publisher provided a copy for review.

[Joel]

FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG, TOTAL INABILITY TO CONNECT

Warning: Review to contain minor spoilers.

E-ARC Provided by author and publisher in return for review

In 2014, I called Jeff's Veil of the Deserters one of my top 5 books, schmoozing with fantasy genre juggernauts such as Brent Weeks and Brandon Sanderson. The debut in the series, Scourge of the Betrayer, captivated me - it was short and to the point, yet incredibly interesting. It left me wanting a lot more, and Veil delivered that to me. The incredible world that Salyards had created opened up before my eyes, introducing me to so much more about the Syldoon culture, their capital city, their politics, and the members of the party that I'd gotten to know in Scourge.

The epic was wrapped up in the forthcoming Chains of the Heretic, Jeff's largest and most detailed book to date. Each consecutive book in this series has gotten better, longer, more vivid, more gut-wrenching. After the strong showing in Veil, I had huge expectations for this novel, and it delivered in every way possible.

Veil of the Deserters left our group of soldiers on the run from their capital city, Sunwrack, after narrowly escaping with their lives - minus about a quarter of their men. They fled, with the unlikely help of Captain Braylar Killcoin's memory-witch sister, Soffijan, in search of the deposed emperor, Thumarr, with the intention of assisting him in retaking the throne. This is easier said than done for them, as they are harried by the new emperor's troops, and find themselves stuck between their enemy, and the impenetrable wall of the godveil - all that separates their land from the land of the Deserters, the gods who abandoned their world centuries before.

When their feet were put to the fire, our first-person narrator of the series, the scribe Arki, discovered in some ancient texts that he was translating that they perhaps had a way to penetrate the Veil. After taking losses to hold off the enemies, they were able to pass the Veil, only to find themselves met by the Deserters themselves, finding that they were more terrifying than even previously thought, but also, shockingly, mortal. They also find quickly just how powerful that the Deserters are, and are forced to use all of their cunning and resources to escape their clutches.

Upon locating deposed emperor Thumaar, the party is surprised at some changes to his character, as well as his choice of allies; however, they stick to their loyalty to him, and vow to continue helping his plot to overthrow the evil Cynead, who is holding the throne of the Syldoonian empire. Eventually, this plan goes awry in rather spectacular fashion...

There are so, so many things that this series has done right. Very rarely have I found another trilogy or series where the story and suspense build and build, at just the right speed the majority of the time, every step of the process seeming to come exactly where it needs to. Scourge laid the groundwork, introduced the characters, and left us wondering what COULD be going on. Veil blew all of that up, exposed this enthralling world to us, left readers in shock, in tears at times, or fuming with rage at others. And there to sweep up the fruits of that is Chains, bringing the story home.

Some of the biggest strengths of Jeff's writing, as well as the novels, are his characters, and more specifically, their interpersonal dialogues and personalities. I often judge novels very harshly if their characters seem homogeneous, similar, as if cut from a mold. Every. Single. Character. in the Bloodsounder's Arc has their own distinct personality, speech style, mannerisms, behaviors. For large chunks of the novel, I feel as though I could identify almost any of the characters simply by their dialogue or actions, without any noting of who was speaking. That's brilliance, as far as I'm concerned - to have each character be that distinct, without overdoing it and having them say certain lines too many times, or have repetitive mannerisms (looking at you, Nynaive in WoT). There's ample usage of certain phrases, actions, etc that make the characters distinct, but it never feels like too much, never feels like anything is used in excess.

Salyards routinely creates distinct and vivid imagery, while using an economy of words. While Chains is by far his longest book yet, clocking in at over 500 hardcover pages, it is not filled with fluff or filler. All of those pages are used for purpose, for events that matter, for character interactions that feel necessary and needed, for descriptions that are succinct, but visceral. Conversations portray information, history, background, forthcoming events; all seamless, always feeling natural. Early in the series, I commented that there was some infodumping-type conversations occurring at times, but these are done away with by the third book, and Salyards seamlessly integrates these into casual conversation, finds a way to get across information without being clunky or awkward. Everything, at this point, is just so polished.

There are a plethora of traumatic happenings in Chains, all of which are handled very well. However, the reactions to these tragedies might be the strongest of any book I've read in recent memory. The somber response of a group of ultramasculine, hardened soldiers to a comrade's death, each grieving quietly in their own way, in a group that generally abhors weakness. The internal struggles of our narrator Arki, as he struggles to adapt to the Syldoon lifestyle as they slowly accept him into their fold, as he watches friends fall, witnesses some of the most terrifying and horrific events, and tries to process them, and watch those around process them, picking up on subtle cues that betray their true feelings, hidden under a callous shell.

Arki, as a character, completed one of the single most satisfying character arcs I've ever read. His growth as a character, as a person, as a soldier, as an outsider in the Syldoon culture growing towards his acceptance by the group. He changes noticeably over the course of the series, however he does so gradually - never having sudden adaptations, struggling to learn new information and customs, learn new skills; still struggling with those skills by the end of the book, even after practicing them, in an incredibly realistic way. He always feels relatable, believable - you are never in doubt as to the fact that he is a simple scholar and archivist, rather than a soldier like the crew around him. Yet he does grow into his role in the company, slowly gains their trust, slowly integrates himself into the fold.

The characters around him continue to grow as well, through the series - they stick to their guns, ultimately, but change based on deaths around them, events, occurrences. Salyards is fantastic about characters not having miraculous recoveries from grievous injuries - they suffer the effects of things that happen to them for some time, are hindered by these limitations, begin to compensate for them in other ways. It's hard to discuss 'realism' in a book filled with magic and godlike characters, but Jeff gives the book a feel of probability, a sense that, if the events of the book were real, that these characters were struggling and behaving as real people in that situation would. It's a breath of fresh air, after hundreds of books where characters get sliced to pieces or have limbs broken, in a pre-hospital era, and yet are back fighting later, often the same day, as if there was no effects of their injuries.

The book and series crescendo is epic and heartbreaking. Jeff warned me of 'big twists' towards the end, but even with warning, I was caught totally off-guard by some of the occurrences. More than once I said "HOLY CRAP!" aloud, and more than once I messaged Jeff to give him grief for the things he did to my heart. The groundlaying for events is subtle, well-crafted, and results in a gut-punch when the big events do happen.

While action scenes are not the meat of this series, there are certainly many of them, and they're handled very well. The craziness of battle is well represented, and while he does not go into the details and brass tacks of large-army (or even small platoon) logistics as much as he could have, you still end up with a feeling of understanding. I felt like I grasped the Syldoonian military strategies and policies, their communication methods with their troops, the potential for subterfuge and dissent among the ranks of subordinate soldiers. It was largely handled with a deft hand, not spending too much time focusing on what could come across as 'boring' tactical battle pieces, but still giving enough to work with and imagine the scenes.

The ending itself was both heartbreaking, and very satisfying. Even if you guess what's coming, it still hits hard, and is an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, all across the spectrum. It's epic, huge-scale, big implications, exciting. The fade-out epilogue closes things out in a satisfactory manner, leaving the reader with an understanding of the current state of things, without going on too long, being too sappy, being too flat. It was exactly the kind of ending to such an epic and fantastic series that I was hoping for.

There were some steep expectations and hopes for this novel, coming off of the brilliant Veil Of The Deserters, and Salyards delivers in spectacular fashion. Each consecutive book of the series was better and better, and it's hard not to feel like Jeff has set himself up for a long, and hopefully successful, run in fantasy writing. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting his future endeavors.

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

Full review here: http://thequeenofblades.blogspot.co.u...

This series is fantastic, and the last installment is, by far, the best. It has all the things you come to expect from Salyards, great worldbuilding, superb characters, and most of all that authentic dialogue. Plus some added extras. What's the extras I hear you cry? Well, the mystery is solved! Not just any old mystery, the mystery.

I was so afraid the conclusion would not live up to the build-up, but I was (gladly) proven wrong. What started out as a small company of soldiers planning on inciting a war with a neighbouring country has evolved into something so much more. This series is totally underrated, more people should know about it.

Braylar and his gang find themselves trapped between the enemies and the dreaded Godveil. Gambling on the power of Bloodsounder, they decide to cross over. What they find on the other side is not quite what they expected or hoped for. And that doesn't even begin to deal with the problem of getting to the deposed emporer. Things get mightily complicated for our band of Syldoon soldiers.

Awesome series!

[Laura Hughes]

Chains of the Heretic is the spectacular denouement to a spectacular(-ly underrated) series, each instalment of which is more thoughtful, more entertaining and more accomplished than the last. Salyards really hit his stride in the second half of the trilogy, and the momentum he’s built so far – carefully rolled into motion in Scourge of the Betrayer, then gaining traction in Veil of the Deserters – hurtles right through into book three like an unlikely boulder in a Tomb Raider game.

As before, Chains picks up right where the previous book left off. The end is in sight for our endearing protagonist Arki, but he still has a long way to go before he completes his journey from insular local scribe to inured military chronicler. The road he travels is rougher and more dangerous than ever before, but so is Arki. His own resilience, as well as the company he’s kept, have shaped him into a slightly older, wiser and stronger version of himself; and there’s no question that the Arki in this book is somehow more than the Arki we met back in book one.

Earlier in the trilogy Arki was pathetically grateful when the Syldoon first began to (grudgingly) toss scraps of knowledge and kindness in his direction – as though Arki were a barely-tolerated mongrel and their non-abusive words, bones. These scant personal victories provided rare clues that helped us first begin to unravel the layers of posturing, and so we the reader were just as grateful as Arki for these little titbits of information.

And then time passes, group dynamics change, and sympathetic gestures and enlightening conversations start to become more frequent (though still far from the norm). This inevitable yet somehow surprising development takes place whilst Arki himself – partly due to his sheer persistence in the Sisyphean struggle to win over his new employers – surpasses the Syldoons’ (admittedly low) expectations, earning himself a healthy measure of respect along the way.

It’s impossible to identify exactly when Arki makes this transformation – from hindrance to help, from awkward servant to inept-but-determined ally – because the process is so gradual and subtle. But there’s no doubting that some of the hardest bastards in the Syldoon empire now look upon little Arki as a friend and confidante, and others, as more than a friend (wink, wink). It’s incredibly satisfying to see Arki grow in confidence; to watch as he earns the right not only to question men who he once feared but also to boldly banter with the best of them. Arki is no longer someone we feel sorry for, but someone who we admire; no longer a cowering dog but a steadfast jackal.

Sometime during Veil of the Deserters Arki crossed an intangible line, after which the Syldoon ceased to be “them” and instead became “us”. But there’s far more to it than simply becoming ‘one of the lads’. With familiarity comes the weight of responsibility; and Arki’s tacit acceptance into the company brings moral crisis and a nagging sense of culpability for the Syldoons’ violent actions. On the other hand, as Arki adapts to his surroundings, so too are the other characters subtly transformed through their interactions with the curious and well-meaning scribe. It’s true that these tough-as-nails soldiers are nearly as reluctant to volunteer information about themselves as they would be to stick their arm inside a ripper’s cage; but Salyards gives the impression that they wouldn’t be sharing their secrets at all if it had been anyone except Arki who’d asked for them.

Even so, the Syldoon aren’t exactly brimming with revelations. This is partly because they’re well-rounded and realistic secondary characters as opposed to bog-standard RPG-type henchmen. Salyards doesn’t bombard us with endless side quests, and refrains from trying to shoehorn Arki’s companions’ tales into the story. Instead, each subplot branches off from the main events of the Arc to flourish or to die elsewhere, or else lie unresolved beneath the surface of future conversations. By not involving Arki in these subplots any more deeply than he absolutely needs to be, Salyards creates the illusion that every character’s life is just as independent and complex as anyone else’s, both on and off the page – yet another detail that adds another layer to this series’ foundation of realism and depth.

Prospective readers of Bloodsounder’s Arc should be aware that, thanks to the ‘real time’ first person narrative, they’ll quite literally spend every moment with this same close-knit group of characters, and I’ll not deny that there are times when the campsite conversations start to feel a little too familiar, the drawn-out explanations of history and lore somewhat repetitive, and the company’s road banter ever-so-slightly predictable. But such things can be easily overlooked as long as the characters are compelling, and dark fantasy rarely spits out any who are more compelling than Salyards’ Syldoon. Coarse but clever, dangerous yet loyal, they thunder into being and charge off the page. After which they grab you by the throat. Then use their free hand to punch you in the balls.

Small wonder Arki’s changed after spending months surrounded by abrasive and foul-mouthed companions (whose crude banter is a continual source of amusement – and sometimes violence!). But beneath the jokes there lies a surprisingly strong undercurrent of pathos poignantly reminiscent of that which accompanied the closing moments of Scourge of the Betrayer. The author manipulates mood using means both subtle and understated, just as he does with a great many other aspects of Bloodsounder’s Arc. For example, Salyards creates unique settings, awe-inspiring mythologies and a plot that is stunningly epic and original, and essentially uses them as tools with which to hone and develop his protagonists. This clever inversion of form – using events that, as they escalate, work to enhance rather than dilute the focus on humanity – ensures two things: that Arki and the other characters remain front and centre at all times; and that the story retains the intimacy and immediacy that has set this entire trilogy apart from the very beginning.

I’ve said before (many times) that this surprisingly subtle, occasionally meandering series also happens to boast some of the most brutal, tense and realistic combat scenes I’ve ever read – and Chains of the Heretic is no exception. Blow-by-blow descriptions, fallible weapons, dodgy armour, long-term injuries and unlucky timing. I raved about the exquisiteness of Salyards’ fight scenes when I reviewed both Scourge of the Betrayer and Veil of the Deserters, and don’t wish to bore anyone with repetition. Suffice it to say that Chains takes everything – everything – to the next level with its larger-than-life anti-heroes, settings both bizarre and beautiful, and an increasingly brutal body count.

Essentially, the entire Bloodsounder’s Arc is one huge book that just happens to be split into three parts. Neither part makes sense without the others, nor is the story – or the experience – complete until you’ve read all three books. You might be thinking, ‘well, obviously – it’s a trilogy, numbnuts.’ And you’d be right. But what I mean is that, at its heart, Arki’s journey – as a writer and as an individual – is also Salyards’ journey. Every novel that has ever existed is a labour of love, time and dedication; but there’s something incredibly rewarding, not to mention personal, in witnessing a debut writer’s very own arc from the uncertainty of their first novel through to a finished work of art.

And make no mistake: Bloodsounder’s Arc is a work of art, a dark and masterful tapestry of tension and momentum wherein each word weaves a more deftly spun strand than the last. The final triptych, Chains of the Heretic, is Salyards’ pièce de résistance, falling naturally but devastatingly into its place as the boldest and most brutal piece of the saga.

I’d be hard-pressed to describe Chains of the Heretic as a ‘happy’ ending to the series, but it’s certainly a satisfying one. Which is fortunate, since Salyards has made it clear that while he may eventually return to the world of Bloodsounder he has no immediate intention of doing so. Rumour has it that he’s currently working on something radically different to the Arc: a fast-paced urban fantasy/SF novel set fifty years in the future and tentatively titled Grimoire Zero.

In the meantime, those who are desperate for more Bloodsounder will want to check out Salyards’ short story contributions to the anthologies Neverland’s Library (Ragnarok) and the forthcoming Evil is a Matter of Perspective (Grimdark Magazine). In fact, I urge you to do so.

[Anna]

I cannot put into words how brilliant this trilogy is. It's underrated! Military Fantasy of the highest quality. There's a ton of reviews that said all I can possibly write. Go read them and then go buy this trilogy!
I'm gonna re-read this very soon. Until some new books by Jeff Salyards pop up on the market. Jesus, these three books made me really happy.

[Soo]

Mini-Review:

I should rate this book 3.5 stars but I will leave it at 4 because it is better than many of the other books I've read recently.

The POV for the trilogy never really grew on me. I did grow to like Arky but I wasn't a fan of his viewpoint. I felt that it stifled the story in many ways. I know many people love this trilogy but I feel like the whole thing set me up to yearn for answers that won't be answered any time soon. There's so much detail given on various aspects of the series and yet I still don't have a clear idea of the magic system, the history of the lands on either side of the veil or why a man like Braylar would become a dedicated soldier of the Empire.

The series is called Bloodsounder's Arc. What do I know about Bloodsounder? Not a lot. The story tried to keep a steady pace of scene, Arky's contemplation and action but there was too sharp a contrast between the information that was given vs the ones held back. All of the questions I have about the story, plot and characters are barely touched in the series.

The sex scene was subpar. There's no point in going into detail about sex if it's not going to be engaging in some manner. It was funny in the mean kind of way and just as awkward as the first sex scene in book one. Though the one in the first book made more sense in setting up the world & characters than this one.

[Shae]

Well my final read for 2020 was an absolute beaut! Bloodsounder's Arc has been an excellent trilogy in general, but this third instalment really ratcheted things up a level - Salyards saved the best till last!

[Angela]

A great conclusion to an engrossing series.

I loved how Arki became a part of the troop and he really grew as a character through the series. The ending made complete sense and was a fitting ending for our characters. Salyards created a real mix of characters that were essential to the story and each enriched the story in their own way. Whether is was the rough speaking Mulldoos or Ven and his obsession with eating eggs.

A trilogy well worth giving a go.

[Alissa]

"The years cool passions for some men, neutralize poison, soften the edges of grief and rage and prejudice. But for others, they hold on even tighter to the things that burn their insides out regardless of the passage of time, or even in spite of it, as if to curse the very world itself."

[Eric]

4.5 Stars

A great end to an underrated series, Chains of the Heretic paid off all of the plot points begun in the earlier books and wrapped up the story of Arki and his Syldoon patrons nicely.

At the end of Book 2, we say Arki escape Sunwrack with Braylar and his company of Jackals after Emperor Cynead seized control of the Memoridons and made himself the most powerful emperor in the history of the Syldoon Empire. They may be free of the city, but they are nowhere near safe. Hunted by the emperor and his Memoridons, they soon find themselves trapped against the Godveil. Desperate, they turn to some old passages discovered by Arki and attempt to cross the veil. What they find on the other side will change everything.

There isn’t much to say that I haven’t already seen in earlier reviews of the previous books. Jeff Salyards is an extremely talented author, with some of the best characterization and dialogue I’ve read in a while. These books are grim and brutal but not excessively dark. They are also grounded in a way that I’ve rarely seen in fantasy. Even at the end of the series, there is no sudden growth in power from any of the characters, and what powers are used are used in a logical way that feels realistic.

If you like your fantasy a bit darker and more grounded, this series is an underrated gem.

[Paul Bosonetto]

Fantastic book! Fantastic trilogy! Of all the books I've read this series is one of my all time favorites. I've grown to love the characters, and finishing this last book, I am so sad to leave them behind. (to Salyard: sure we can't get rid of that trilogy word? I'd read another ten of these)

If you've read the prior books you know much what to expect, save for a host of truly epic, in scale and awesomeness, and breath catching events.

Great action, great characters, great plot, great pacing, and great dialogue. I have never been anything less than supremely impressed with this series and the third book is no exception.

Thank you, Jeff Salyard. Can't wait to read what you write next.

[Vanessa *the Pixie Princess*]

As with each book in this series the one word that comes to mind is unpredictable. And while that is a huge asset, it also held me back from giving this 5 stars. There were many situations and characters (and their relationships) that I thought should have been explained and explored more thoroughly throughout this book.
Still, I highly recommend this trilogy! I really enjoyed it and will miss these characters now that it is over.

[Marielle]

Perfect ending to a wonderful story! I would certainly like to read more about Arki...

[Scott Hitchcock]

Book 1: 3.5*
Book 2: 4.5*
Book 3: 5*

A special thank you to Jenna and Angela for staying on me to read this series. I should have done it long ago.

Phenomenal conclusion to the series. I think there’s two things you need to do to truly enjoy it. First treat all three books as one and read them back to back to back. They really are one really long book. Second get over any sensibilities you have for crude language. Luckily I don’t have this hang-up. However terms like horsecunt show up a lot which may turn some readers off. In the end it’s worth it. This concluding volume is probably my favorite read of the year minus my Malazan re-reads.

JS’s prose is excellent. He’s a great storyteller. The action and grim-darkness go up a notch in each book. The world is unique as is the magic. I kept thinking don’t screw this up by not thinking of the answer to this question but it all came together so well. I expected all the different plot twists, minus one, but that didn’t take away from them or the quality of the series.

Recommended to everyone but required if you like Grimdark.

[Joseph]

And in this, the concluding volume of the trilogy, Arkamondos' travels with the Braylar Killcoin and his company of Jackals have left him a veteran warrior who --

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, nope.

He has, at least, learned to span a crossbow, and can probably draw a sword without slicing off bits of his own anatomy (on a good day), but his talents remain otherwise, and his role remains to assist the Jackals by translating ancient manuscripts in an attempt to help them depose the current emperor (who, himself, displaced the Jackals' preferred emperor in a coup) by breaking the usurper's hold over the Memoridons, the memory-witches who have been pressed into service to hold the empire together (one of whom, it should be noted, is Braylar's not-very-fondly-received sister).

And, of course, to act as archivist and chronicle their travels, which will take them to places none of them could have imagined at the beginning of their journey, and which will ultimately have catastrophic repercussions for the world as a whole.

A fine conclusion to a highly recommended trilogy; in this book, necessarily, the scale broadens, but Arki continues to provide an intimate, ground-level view of world-shaking events.

[DJ]

4/5 Rating: Review originally first posted at MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape

An EPIC ending to an EPIC fantasy trilogy!

*Disclaimer: I was provided with an early digital review copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion and review

To put it simply: this book was amazing. Scourge of the Betrayers (my review) was a solid, if short, first book in the trilogy, focusing on establishing who our characters were. Salyards then came back with the impressive Veil of the Deserters (my review): full of plots twists, exploring more of the magic and world, and telling us what the true mission of Captain Killcoin was. Finally, with Chains of the Heretics, Salyards has once again out done himself! This novel is leaps and bounds better than Veil! Everything from his writing to his storytelling to his characters, dialogs, and plot, have greatly improved; it's hard to believe that an author could progress some much in one series, let alone make such a great jump from one book to the next.

Shit has just hit the fan like no one could have expected at the end of Veil of the Deserters. Arki, Braylar, Mulldoos, Vendurro, Glesswick, and few hundred more Slydoon warriors, now find themselves on the run the newly self-imposed emperor Cynead.

Having control of the all the Memordians gives Cynead an immense advantage over the Jackals as they are fleeing to reunite with the deposed emperor Thumarr. Cynead, however, is able to trap and force them to the East, where the only place they can head is to the Godveil. This leaves Captain Killcoin with two decisions: to try to stand and fight the Syldoon armies and Memorideans closing in on him - most likely resulting in all of his men's death - or taking a chance on Arki and his translations, and seeing if Bloodsounder really can give him the ability to cross the Godveil to land of the Gods.

Why was this last book so great? Because Jeff Slayards kept adding and expanding and building upon what he had already written in the series. One area (no pun intended) that comes to mind when I think of the improvements that Salyards made was the location of the story. We have been traveling around in the previous two books -from Anjuria to the Green Sea, and from the Forest to Sunwrack - but this time we get to see the Land of the Deserters; we cross the Godveil! It was refreshing touch of scenery; literally felt like a whole new world and I was eating up everything that we were learning about it! And from this exploration into the lands of the Gods, Salyards give us the anwers - some, at least - of the Deserter religion: we learn the truth of what happened thousands of years ago, why the Gods built the veil, what power Bloodsounder and the Memordians hold, and who these Deserters are. Also, in this final book, Salyards even decided to give two characters, Azmorogon and Rudgi, a more prominent role, and it did not feel out of place or forced at all; it felt perfect - like it went with the natural flow of the story.

Things like these three aspects I have mentioned so far, give the final book a life of its own. Major events and twists have happened; the Syldoon empire has changed; Jackals have been killed and we have lost major characters. Our story needs to evolve; it needs to change. And because of that, we need to see more of the world; we need to learn of our burning questions; we need new characters to step-up, other characters to take a step a back, and some to adapt. We cannot have the same characters as before for the story to work.

I remember after I first read Scourge of the Deserters I thought that Ven reminded me a younger versions of Mulldoos, but loved to run his mouth. After I read Veil of the Deserters I thought that Mulldoos and Rike (from the Broken Empire trilogy) would have made such a great team because they were both blood thirsty. Between those two books, I had this image of Captain Braylar Killcoin as this cunning, tactical, and unforgiving man - which he is - but I had him as more of a ruthless, heartless/soulless, almost blood thirsty man. And Soffjian too, as basically the female copy of Braylar. All of these assumptions may have been somewhat right when I first made them - now that I look back at them though, they are all so wrong. They are all right on the bare surface, but these characters are no longer that; they are deep and complex, and incredibly developed to each being a character like their own within this series, and apart from other series too.

Ven runs his mouth, but he does it by bringing up random topics at the most inappropriate times - and he has a love for eggs! (Me too, Ven!) :D Mulldoos is as bloodthirsty, vulgar, and violent any anything, but dare I say, he has a heart? Despite the main protagonist of the this series being Arki, Braylar is just as complex and developed, if not more, than a number of other series' main protagonists! What we saw of him in Scourge was only a taste of who Braylar really is, and here, in Chains of the Heretics, with Soffijian, their borther-sister relationship is explained in depth.

It is incredible how well Salyards ended up writing these characters - but none were written better than Arki. Do you remember when we first met Arki? This poor, scared, little boy, who had never left the library, never kissed a girl, would near cry himself when Braylar or Mulldoos would so much as look at him, and hadn't a clue how to hold a crossbow; do you remember? Well, Salyards has been a plaguing sneaky and clever writer, and whether you have been picking up on it or not, he has been changing Arki. It has been ever so slight through out the series, with specific moments here and there as major turning points, but Arki is not the same at all. When I realized who Arki was at the end of the book, and compared him to the Arki I first met, my jaw hit ground. Even though both those Arkis are pretty much different characters, I cannot pin point an exact moment when he turned. Like I said, there some key moments that come to mind, but Salyards had been changing him ever so subtly, that when Arki finally did something so "not" Arki, that it didn't feel out of character at all for me; it felt like Arki, and that's when I realized how much his character has changed right under my nose.

In case you haven't realized it, I will spell it out for you: I think Jeff Salyards in a phenomenal writer! I haven't been listening to podcast much the past year as I had been before, so I may be out of the loop a little bit for what people are saying about him, but when I first heard of Jeff, all I heard about where his fight scenes. They are top notch, but as each book came out, he showed how talented he was in so many other areas. The two I want to point out are his characters (I believe that the developed and arc of Salyard's characters throughout the entire Bloodsounder's Arc trilogy perfectly exemplifies how Salyar's talent as a writer has improved) and his dialog! (I haven't mentioned in this review, but I do go into detail in my review of Veil of the Deserters).

One last thing I want to mention is the ending: I found the end of this story to be pretty emotional, quite a shock, I thought, but it was extremely satisfying, and I would not change a think about it. I really do hope we get another series in this world! I won't say which characters I think it will be staring ;) but I did catch several possibilities where the story could be continued.

My only complaint about this series is that the first book wasn't as good as this one! That is not a knock on Scourge, it was good, but now that I know Jeff can tell a story and write his characters, dialogs, scenes, and plots like what I read in Chain of the Heretics - this is the calibre of writing I will be expecting from now, Jeff... no pressure :P

Can't wait for whatever Salyard's next book will be!

4/5 Rating

Bloodsounder's Arc Trilogy: 4/5 Rating

-DJ

[Nickolas]

REVIEW SUMMARY: Bloodsounder’s Arc reaches its apogee with Chains of the Heretic.

MY RATING: 4.5 stars

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The ultimate coup sends Arki, Captain Killcoin, and the Syldoon soldiers of Jackal Tower fleeing into the unknown where they will confront their own legends.

MY REVIEW
PROS: Excellent character progression, unexpected twists and turns, relentless action, bittersweet goodbyes.

CONS: A little more time spent learning about the Deserters would have been welcome and the final battle could have been longer.

BOTTOM LINE: Salyards is among the best and brightest the Sword & Sorcery sub-genre has to offer and Chains of the Heretic silences any debate.

I write this review after a 250 page reading binge to finish Chains of the Heretic: Bloodsounder’s Arc Book Three by Jeff Salyards. Coming in at just over 500 pages this tome dwarves the two previous entries, and rightly so. There’s no filler to be found in the conclusion to the journey Salyards set in motion with Scourge of the Betrayer. It’s a thrilling finale filled with unexpected reversals and constantly raising stakes.

We last left off with Arki, our archivist-narrator, fleeing the infamous Captain Braylar Killcoin and a small company of hardbitten warriors fleeing the Syldoon capital of Sunwrack. Hounded by several much larger forces of Imperial soldiers and unable to ditch the Memoridon memory witches trailing them, the outcasts of the Jackal Tower risk an unprecedented crossing beyond the Godveil…and come face to face with the Deserters of myth.

It would be difficult to write a completely spoiler-free review review and I’ve never been one to do more work than necessary so here’s my one and final warning: Mild spoilers ahead, read at your own risk. If you enjoyed the first two books feel free to go ahead and skip this review altogether because Chains of the Heretic is better than either of those.

A few years ago Jeff Salyards pleasantly surprised me with Scourge of the Betrayer, a very dark and personal dagger punch of a fantasy novel that left me wanting more. Veil of the Deserters, book two, dodged the sophomore slump by continuing to deliver sharp dialogue and sharper action while expanding on the world we caught tantalizing glimpses of during the first go around. Now with Chains of the Heretic Salyards goes even further by crossing over the Godveil, introducing our intrepid heroes to their “gods,” and delighting in some good old fashioned Syldoon politics. But best of all Chains of the Heretic sees our narrator Arki developing in gratifying ways.

Back when I first started this series I wondered if we would ever get to cross the Godveil and encounter the Deserters or if it would remain an enigma. When I found out that’s exactly what Salyards planned to give readers with the final book in the arc I was excited but also hesitant. Apart from the memory magic the series felt rooted in the believable. The characters were flawed, the politics were brutal, and the combat left no winners — only those who lost less. I worried that the inclusion of more mystical aspects might detract from the foundation Salyards built. I needn’t have worried. The Deserters are awesome and far more fearsome and alien than fantasy standard orcs or trolls. We don’t get to learn much of their culture but we do learn some of their history and their connection to the memory magic. We also get to see them in action and they are a force to be reckoned with.

Salyards writes combat without any frills. There is no glory here. The fighting is fast, frenetic, and frightening. Often times luck influences the course of the battles just as much as skill or numbers. Viewing this all through the eyes of Arki has been a highlight of the series for me. Arki is a writer, not a fighter, and he conveys the bowel loosening terror and chaos unlike any other fantasy narrator I’ve read. Up until this point readers have seen the Slydoon involved in small unit action but this time around we get to witness larger scale conflict. There’s a suitably epic final battle that couldn’t have been easy to write given the limitations of the first person narration.

But as exciting and impactful as the action is it’s the characters of Chains of the Heretic that really shine. By now readers have likely become attached to the bipolar Captain Killcoin and his band of merry murderers. Vendurro is a favorite of mine but I unexpectedly found the prickly Lieutenant Mulldoos growing on me as the novel progresses. Arki’s character development is particularly impressive. Arki has come a long way from the naive small town scribe he was at the onset of his journey, for better or worse. He’s not quite as wet behind the ears any longer. He grasps the cold logic of his warrior companions. He can almost hold his own in a fight. He’s not Syldoon but he’s close enough. Reading Chains of the Heretic I felt an odd pride wash over me to see the man that Arki had become.

Salyards wraps up many loose ends, giving readers a degree of closure, but also leaves the door open to continue exploring this intriguing fantasy world should he decide to return to it at a later date. He makes bold decisions, taking some major risks that a lesser author would shy away from, and in return the payoff is massive. Just don’t expect all of your favorite characters to survive Chains of the Heretic — they won’t. But that’s the fun of the Sword & Sorcery isn’t it?

Nick Sharps
SF Signal

[Shawn Wickersheim]

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll simply say, this book was absolutely amazing. What an incredible finish for this trilogy! I loved the story arcs of the main characters - how the world expanded with each book - the history, the magic . . . If you have not read this completed trilogy yet, and you love great storytelling, you really should check these books out. (And when you reach the end, like me, you'll probably wish there were even more books set in this fascinating world). 5+ stars for me!

[Tim Marquitz]

Ana amazing finale to the series. It builds upon the tension and ends the only way it possibly could: with a bang. Fantastic read that I recommend to everyone.

[Dave]

Satisfying ending to an excellent fantasy trilogy.

[Kevin]

I want more... Looking forward to the next book from Mr. Salyards.